(From left) Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft; HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of G42; and Peng Xiao, CEO of G42 / Photo credit: G42

Microsoft has invested US$1.5 billion in G42, an AI company based in the United Arab Emirates, broadening its reach into the Middle East and North Africa region. The deal builds upon the two companies’ partnership that was formed last year.